Nick Fuad didn’t know a lot about creating websites, but he and his wife Kylie had an idea to create one about Aussie House Swaps.So, after Nick finished his day job, he’d sit down at the computer on a desk in his laundry and started working on it.That was 16 years ago.Now, the couple has created a successful Lismore-based business that employs four other people and has been chosen as a finalist in the 2019 Optus My Business Awards.Kylie said she’s excited that their website Aussie House Swap is one of the top three finalists for Travel and Tourism Business of the Year, and the Workplace of the Year Award - and that Nick and Kylie themselves are finalists for Regional Business Leader of the Year.“The idea started when I was working in a remote community in the Northern Territory and we had kids and a house at Nambucca Heads,” Kylie said.“Nick said it would be cool to swap houses for six months and go to Alice Springs and work there.“There were not a lot of websites offering a house swap service at the time – and we also thought about creating a house-sitting site.“It was a time that the online market was just starting.“With Nick’s brain and ideas, and my money from working as a teacher, we were able to build the business and now we both work for ourselves.”Kylie said the couple found a website developer who helped them build and grow their websites, and now, they run seven house-sitting and swapping websites in the UK, NZ, Canada and Australia.“Our websites offer a holiday travel model that is sustainable and environmentally friendly,” she said.“People are more aware of their footprint now.“It’s about people sharing resources in order to travel - this is what the true sharing economy is all about.“Sites like Airbnb can be damaging because some people don’t rent houses out, instead just making money per night on short term accommodation – and there’s a big shortage of affordable rental properties.”Kylie said their house swap and house sit websites are meeting places.“People join as an annual member with a flat fee, and then swap profile info about themselves and their local areas,” she said.“Then you look at where you want to go to and can search for others who might be interested in your area and you contact each other though the site.“We use a private messaging system and people work it out between themselves."Some fly across Australia to a house and have a car waiting for them at the other side – and some leave their pets at home to be looked after by the swappers.“It’s an interesting way to travel and a lot of people become friends as a result.“It created a strong sense of community.“And we’re excited that we’ve been able to open an office in Magellan Street and employ people locally.“These National awards are highly competitive so being selected in three different categories is a huge achievement for a small business in a regional area.“We love living in the Northern Rivers and feel very proud to be one of many hardworking regional small businesses achieving great things.“To have our little office a finalist for Workplace of the Year in national awards is incredible.”The awards ceremony will be held on November 15 in Sydney.“Hopefully we’ll be bringing home a trophy or three to decorate our Magellan Street office,” Kylie laughed.You can visit their sites https://www.aussiehouseswap.com.au and https://www.aussiehousesitters.com.au/

Richmond District Police are seeking community assistance in identifying a man in relation to an incident which occurred at the Wollongbar Tavern on October 11. If you can help identify the male pictured in the above photo, please contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 and quote Event number E434603192.

Securing our water supply will be the focus of newly re-elected chairperson of Rous County Council, Keith Williams. At Rous County Council’s annual election last week, Ballina Shire Councillors Keith Williams and Sharon Cadwallader were unanimously voted in as chairperson and deputy chairperson.This will be Cr Williams’ third and final term as chairperson before the New South Wales local government elections next year. “I look forward to leading Council as we consolidate our efforts so far to meet the challenges ahead, especially with regard to securing water in the long term in a way that is sustainable for the community and the environment,” Cr Williams said.Councillors are elected for a four-year term with the chairperson and deputy chairperson being elected annually by the councillors.Cr Cadwallader said she was honoured to have been elected deputy chairperson for an organisation that has gone from strength to strength since its amalgamation. “Alongside the chairperson and councillors, I look forward to working for the community to provide the best service possible for the region’s bulk water supply, weed biosecurity and flood mitigation,” she said.Rous County Council is governed by eight councillors with two nominated from each of its constituent councils of Ballina, Byron, Lismore and Richmond Valley. Rous County Council’s other six councillors are Cr Vanessa Ekins (Lismore City Council), Cr Basil Cameron (Byron Shire Council), Cr Simon Richardson (Byron Shire Council), Cr Darlene Cook (Lismore City Council), Cr Sandra Humphrys (Richmond Valley Council) and Cr Robert Mustow (Richmond Valley Council).About Rous County Council Rous County Council (RCC) is a multipurpose county council delivering bulk water, weed biosecurity and flood mitigation services to the Northern Rivers of NSW. RCC’s constituent councils are Lismore, Ballina, Byron and Richmond Valley: • Bulk water: The regional water supply authority. It provides water in bulk from its principal supply sources at Rocky Creek Dam and Emigrant Creek Dam servicing around 100,000 people. • Weed biosecurity: The local control authority for weed biosecurity. Operations cover an area of more than a million hectares including Kyogle and Tweed shires, which are serviced by agreement with those councils. • Flood mitigation: The flood mitigation authority across the local government areas of Ballina, Lismore and Richmond Valley. RCC also operates Richmond Water Laboratories in Lismore, providing professional sampling and analytical testing services for water and soil to NSW councils, private industry and the public. The laboratory is National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) accredited. For more information, visit http://www.rous.nsw.gov.au / http://www.waterlab.com.au

If you know someone who is passionate, talented or works tirelessly for our community, nominate them for a 2020 Australia Day Award.Lismore City Council Mayor Isaac Smith calls people to nominate someone they know for one of the annual awards by November 29.“The awards acknowledge the dedication of our volunteers who have contributed to our community and people who have excelled in their field of endeavour,” Councillor Smith said.“Australia Day Awards give us a chance to acknowledge and thank people in our community who make a difference to the lives of others or who are achieving exceptional things in their field.Cr Smith said often the only way for Council to hear about the extraordinary achievements of ordinary citizens is for colleagues, friends or family member to nominate them.“Inevitably, people who deserve reward never seek it, so we need your help to find the wonderful local people who are quietly doing good things or achieving great things in our community,” he said.“It only takes 5 to 10 minutes to complete an online nomination, and it brings great joy to watch hard-working people receive a little of the recognition they deserve.”Categories in 2020 are: Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year, Aboriginal Citizen of the Year, Services in Community (Individual), Services in Community (Group), Sportsperson (Senior), Sportsperson (Junior), Sports (Team/Group/Organisation), Sustainable Environment and Art/Cultural.Nominations close on Friday, November 29. Council now only accepts online nominations.Visit the Australia Day Awards page to apply.

Kadina High School students joined in song and stories with Torres Strait Islander singer and actress Christine Anu today, Monday, October 28.Ms Anu shared her cultural heritage with years 7 to 10 students, teaching them about the geography of the Torres Strait Islands, Indigenous musical instruments, language - and sang songs she wrote in her Indigenous language. Ms Anu has already performed her ‘In conversation with Christine Anu’ schools’ program to more than 40,000 school students across Australia.Over the next few days, she will be bringing her stories to local schools in Lismore, including Lismore High and Richmond River High Schools. Ms Anu talked told students of her journey from being a dance student, to working as a back up singer, to getting her own record contract. She said her first producer suggested she record My island Home - which then formed the cornerstone of her direction as a musician.“My direction as a musician was based on my mother’s story,” she said. “In her day, they didn’t go past grade five and they weren’t allowed to speak their own language," she said.“My mum was in the playground and was caught speaking her language and was punished, so she ran home to my grandpa and cried.“He picked her up took her to school, picked up a tree branch as flogged the principal. “It taught that man not to mess with Anu women and it gave me the idea how important it is to have our language – it’s out first form of communication. “Your language empowers you with your identity. So, I stared writing in my mother’s language. “This is my first attempt at writing in my own language - about passing down language from generation to generation."Listen to Christine tell this story and sing the song here: https://www.facebook.com/LismoreApp/videos/477684616164854/Kadina High principal Ian Davies said Ms Anu was invited to come to the Kadina High campus to develop students’ connection to Country, inclusion and discuss the importance of First Nations culture.“About 15% of the students here are Indigenous,” Mr Davies said.“We want to make them feel like a respected part of the community.“Having a sense of belonging is essential to personal confidence and motivation.“Having a role model like Christine Anu in the school sharing her experience of culture and working for success will be an invaluable bonus.“As well as an acclaimed singer, actor and radio presenter, Ms Anu is an exceptional speaker and her messages about personal and community endeavour resonate with people of all ages and backgrounds.”As well as Ms Anu presenting her ‘In conversation with Christine Anu’, the years 7 to 10 students experienced a range of welfare workshops as part of a wellbeing initiative called ‘Grow’.‘Grow’ organiser Renee Bolton, from Kadina High School, said local organisations such as Southern Cross University’s GNIBI, Up Top Project, Rekindling the Spirit, Headspace and Social Futures were involved in presenting on the day to support students in understanding their place and their families’ place in the community and its history.“We want to give the students options of places to go when they need help with mental health or other issues,” Ms Bolton said. “And help them engage with learning and education.”Auntie Irene Harrington gave a welcome to country on the day saying how she was from the stolen generations“My kids went to Kadina and my grandkids. I come from a place where I had nothing,” Auntie Irene said.“It’s important that’s kids can travel through life with these three words. Look, listen, learn.“Carry these three words with you through your journey in this lifetime.”Watch the video of Kadina High Children singing along with Christine Anu here: https://www.facebook.com/LismoreApp/videos/901257863579060/

Within 24 hours of opening an exhibition of fine woodwork by master craftsman Geoff Hannah OAM and his students, one of his students, Colin Fardon, was contacted by Brisbane investor John Dunne wanting to purchase Colin’s exquisite cabinet created for the exhibition. Colin Fardon’s Inlayed Collector's Cabinet took just over two years to make and is made from 15 different species of timber including Brazilian Mahogany, East Indian Rosewood, Ebony, Pomelle Sapele, Ivory wood and serpentine stone from Lightning Ridge. It has 40 hand dove tailed drawers, including 3 secret compartments and features intricate hand drawn inlays of Australian flora and fauna. Lismore based Colin started working with master craftsman Geoff Hannah as a work-experience high school kid in 2003 and has been doing weekly classes with Geoff ever since. Geoff Hannah, creator of the famous Hannah Cabinet, himself started working at Brown & Jolly’s furniture in Lismore before starting his own furniture business in 1973.  “I am privileged enough to have attended Geoff's classes for the past 16 years. I have a small furniture making and restoration business which, until now has been part time, but at the close of this exhibition I will commence as my full-time career,” Fardon said.“I have always loved working in timber, especially exotics from around the world. Woodworking has been a dream from me for many years, so I am very excited for the future." The cabinet is tied to Colin’s future in more ways than one – at a private viewing of the cabinet Colin hid an engagement ring in one of the drawers for his girlfriend which she discovered and joyfully accepted his proposal.  John Dunne purchased the cabinet as an heirloom for his family and considers it not only to be an investment in the work but also an investment in Colin as a practitioner. Colin Fardon’s cabinet will be on display at Lismore Regional Gallery until 1st December along with Geoff Hannah’s extraordinary new cabinet Jubilee House and the works of 26 of Geoff Hannah’s students.   You can see the exhibition Chesta Drawz and the LowBoys: An exhibition of fine woodwork by Geoff Hannah and his students until December 1 at Lismore Regional Gallery, 11 Rural St, Lismore.Free daily tours: 11am Chesta Drawz and the LowBoys exhibition; 11:45am The Hannah Cabinet.For information, visit http://www.lismoregallery.orgAdmission to Lismore Regional Gallery is a suggested $5 donation. Gallery opening hours: Tuesday – Sunday 10am to 4pm (Thursdays to 6pm)

Colemans Bridge in North Lismore will see changed traffic conditions from today while heritage photography is carried out ahead of maintenance work starting on the bridge.Coleman’s Bridge goes over Leycester Creek, near the Winsome Hotel.The photography will be carried out for three days from Monday, October 28 between 7am and 6pm, and will involve closing traffic in both directions for up to five minutes. The closures will be carried out at times when there are typically low traffic volumes. One of the two pedestrian walkways will also be closed during the recordings. Transport for NSW will be recording still imagery for heritage purposes. Traffic control will be in place for the safety of workers and road users. Motorists are advised to drive to the conditions and follow the directions of signs and traffic control. Work on the Colemans Bridge maintenance project is expected to start later this year and the community will be kept informed.  Transport for NSW thanks road users for their patience during this time. For the latest traffic updates download the Live Traffic NSW App, visit livetraffic.com or call 132 701. 

Lismore local John Mills has been playing golf in the Our Kids fundraising days for years. This year, he’s playing on local peadiatrician Doctor Chris Ingall’s team and John is proud of the work Chris is doing in the region.“I’m here to support Chris and the work of Our Kids helping sick children in our region,” John said.Golfers ready to tee off at the fundraiser.John joined Chris and other golfers Paul Kelly and Michael Miller to make up a team of four who spent five hours on the golf course on Friday. Each golfer pays $100 a head, with all proceeds going to Our Kids.“There’s a lot of golfers here today who’ve had kids looked after by Chris,” John said.The annual event raises money each year for the Our Kids charity. “The first year we raised $10,000,” John said. “And each year we raise at least that.“There’s lot of big organisations involved in supporting the day as well as us locals. “I remember when he first came to Lismore from Sydney – he was a skilled doctor and has really helped so many people in our area.”Now in its 15th year, the Sommerville Laundry Lomax Lismore Golf Day hosted it’s 2019 fundraiser for Our Kids at East Lismore Golf Club.Since 2005, over 144 golfers each year have been teeing off and have raised over $200,000 to help raise funds for Our Kids.  Golfers in their buggies ready to play.Our Kids – also known as the Northern Rivers Children's Health Fund was founded in 2001 by Dr Chris Ingall. The aim of Our Kids is to improve the health services for children in the Northern Rivers area, by purchasing paediatric equipment for the Lismore Base Hospital and the surrounding satellite hospitals.Our Kids also issue annual Community Grants for families or organisations that care for special need children. These grants purchase equipment, medicine and therapeutic items to help care for these children. Each year the Charity Golf Day fundraise to buy a piece of equipment on the Our Kids Wishlist. At the moment there is a need for 2 Resuscitaires, one for Lismore Base Hospital and one for Ballina Hospital, they come with a price tag of $20,000 each.  As one of this equipment comes with a high price tag, two golf days have united to buy one for the Lismore Base Hospital: Local Government Golf Day and the Lismore Our Kids Golf Day.The Resuscitaire is an intensive care open crib to resuscitate newborn and babies.It provides open access for the paediatric medical team while resuscitating the sick little one when they present at Accident and Emergency.It is a vital piece of equipment that is lifesaving for our sick babies.The Lismore Our Kids Golf Day also falls on National Bandanna Day which raises funds for Teenagers with Cancer therefore in the spirit of working together and helping others all golfers are donning their bandanas to show their support.  Our Kids Golf Day organiser Peter Warren said “working together is what is all about, we all love golf and we all have children”. “Coming together helps Our Kids, this allow us buy the equipment that is on the wish list,” he said.Local Government Golf Day organiser Anthony Magarry said “we all have kids and knowing that we can help our babies when they are so sick and when needing medical treatment and at the same time enjoy a game of golf is wonderful”. If you would like to support Our Kids, call Rebekka Battista on 66202705. For more information about Our Kids, visit http://ourkids.org.au/

I don't mean to scare anyone but Christmas 2019 is only weeks away! Where did this year go? Head to the 'Retail/Shopping' button on the Lismore App and check out some great local businesses that can help with your Christmas Shopping this year. It has been a tough retail year so they need some helping heading into the end of year Retail/Shopping.The weather is Summer like with plenty of blue sky and bright sunshine. It will be a warm 31 degrees on Saturday then we get that southerly change cooling things down to 24 on Sunday. Perfect for sports like cricket and softball over the weekend.There is not a lot on this weekend, which is a good thing with Christmas so close. Markets can get you some bargains and unusual quirky gifts so here's the lowdown;Lismore Farmers Markets from 8am tomorrow morningBlue Knob Markets on from 8:30 tomorrowThe Nimbin Markets are on Sunday between 9am and 2pm.There is an Open Mic Comedy afternoon at the Dunoon Sports Club from 4pm to 6pm. A relaxing fun way to end your weekend. The Latin Festival night tomorrow has been unfortunately been cancelled, just in case you had the night planned via our Whats On button What's On.As I mentioned, it is quiet this weekend. Maybe check out the 'Walks' that you can do with family and friends Walks. Always a good day out.Whatever you are doing, have fun. That's the Weekend Wrap.

A man accused of stalking and intimidating a woman and her daughter will face Lismore Local Court today.Earlier this month, officers attached to Richmond Police District commenced an investigation after reports a man had been stalking a 38-year-old woman and her eight-year-old daughter for several months.About 6.25am yesterday, Thursday October 24, police attended a unit on Jansan Close, Lismore Heights, and arrested a 39-year-old man.Officers executed a search warrant where they allegedly located and seized clothing and maps of the area.He was taken to Lismore Police Station and charged with two counts of stalk/intimidate with intent to cause fear of physical or mental harm.He was refused bail at Lismore Local Court yesterday to reappear at the same court today, Friday, October 25.

If you’ve been assisted by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service, your chance to meet the people who helped you is here.You are invited to a special base visit and morning tea to reunite people with pilots, air crew, NSW Ambulance paramedics and the helicopter’s critical care medical team who played a crucial role in rescues.The Service is largely unaware of the identity of those transported, as patient information is privately held by NSW Health. These people are known as Rescue Club Members.They are a select group of people, whose day started out just like any other, only to take a turn that would remain etched in their minds forever. As well as meeting staff, these people can tour the base facilities and inspect the helicopters at the Lismore base on Sunday 3 November, between 10am-11.30am. Service chief executive, Richard Jones, said that the event provided people who have been assisted by the Rescue Helicopter with the opportunity to better understand how the vital service operates as part of the State’s emergency care chain. “For many people, meeting and talking with Service staff, crew and pilots also helps them in the recovery process,” Mr Jones said.“For others, it’s a way of connecting with people who have been in similar situations.” The Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter is a community based free of charge rescue helicopter service established in 1982 and based in Lismore. The Service supports the region from Tweed Heads in the north, south to Nambucca Heads/Macksville and west to Tenterfield and Glen Innes, and beyond the coastline and is part of a larger organisation which has Westpac Rescue Helicopter bases in Newcastle and Tamworth, collectively performing approximately 1,500 missions each year. People who have been assisted by the Service and are interested in attending any of the bases should register by calling 1800 155 155 or by emailing rescueclub@rescuehelicopter.com.au

Serena Mangan, 23, has been crowned the 2019 North Coast National Senior Showgirl.Serena, a nurse at Lismore Base Hospital said when Showgirl judges asked her what she would showcase about the Lismore area, she replied “local produce”.“We have so much first-class local produce in our area and I said I’d show people the local farmers’ markets – as well as the Lismore Show,” she said.Serena grew up in Spring Grove and lives with her mum and dad on a three acre block with a dairy farm on one side and cattle on the other.“And across the creek, my grandma has donkeys,” she said.“I’ve always been surrounded by the agricultural industry and I look forward to learning more about it.”Serena took holidays from her job as a nurse to be in the running for Showgirl.Pictured: Lismore nurse Serena Mangan at the Show.She said the Lismore Showgirl competition is not a beauty competition. “It’s about being an ambassador in your area and includes working in the community and understanding all about what the Lismore Show is about,” she said.“It was really close - three girls went for it and there weren’t many points between us.“Judges chose based on personality, confidence, dress and diction.“We went in front of a panel of three judges who asked us how we are involved in community and why we wanted to be showgirl.“I saw it as an opportunity to increase my confidence and get involved in the show and see it from a different perspective.”As well as Senior Showgirl, judges chose winners in the categories of Teen, Little Miss and Junior.Serena said she got her hair done by major sponsor The Boys Hair and Makeup.“Alex at The Boys got us prettied up and we went to the Workers Club for a formal dinner where the winners were presented with prizes,” she said.“I won cash, a voucher to Tahiti Hut – which I love - and a voucher to have dress tailered for me to go to the Regional Showgirl competition next March.“I also have an opportunity to go to deportment classes in Dubbo in February.”Serana already has a busy schedule ahead, with an opportunity to get involved with a Melbourne Cup luncheon and presenting a trophy at the speedway.“I’m really excited,” she said.“I’d like to be a role model and meet other amazing women in the agricultural industry “I’ve already learned so much.“This year’s Lismore Show was awesome. There was a good turn out – one of the biggest I’ve seen in a while - and the exhibitions were amazing.“When the cattle show was on, I got to sash some of the winning cows and got close and personal to them.Pictured: Serena Mangan sashes cows at the Show.“Last year’s Showgirl Jenna Robinson was a great mentor 2018 and helped me with nerves before my interview.“Hopefully we can work together to keep the Showgirl competition alive.“I really encourage others to enter next year - I wish I went for it when I was younger. It was really fun.”

In 20 minutes, I identified 18 individual birds. It’s National Bird Week and the Aussie backyard Bird count in on.It’s been calling to me for the past few days, so I took the time to sit down in my backyard in Girard’s Hill and look around me.I saw the green of the tree branches with their Spring flowers, the blue sky above and the movement and life all around me.I’d already downloaded the Aussie Backyard Bird Count App (#AussieBirdCount) on my phone and registered myself (http://www.aussiebirdcount.org.au).Now all I had to do was type in any birds I saw. Easy.I could hear happy birds chirping and squawking from the dense tree cover around me but couldn’t see all of them. I could hear Currawongs calling in the distance.Then a Yellow-throated Miner flew past, heading for the cover of a tree branch, where it started making noises.I knew it wasn’t an Indian Myna - or Common Myna - they have a darker coloured head and aren’t an indigenous Australian species. To be sure, I clicked on the Bird Field Guide in the Bird Count App, typed in Miner and scrolled through the types of Miners that I might see in my location.The guide handily told me that some of them were unlikely to be seen in my registered location. Great news when you’re not sure about which bird it was. Pictured: Rainbow Bee Eater.Bird watching is an act of meditation. It’s about awareness, focus, staying present and vigilant as you look for birds.It’s very relaxing – often bringing a smile to your face as you watch the antics of birds hopping around the tree branches.Especially Lorikeets – they are like the jokers of the bird world and carry on as they search for flowers and seeds in the trees.I’m not a novice at bird watching and I thought my bird identification was pretty good – until I start having to be specific about which species of bird it was. Was it a Rainbow Lorikeet, a Little Lorikeet or a Scaly-breasted Lorikeet? Was it a Grey or a Pied Butcher bird?To be sure, I check the app’s field guide again.Now I’m clearer on which is the Rainbow Lorikeet (it has a blue chest) and which is the Little Lorikeet.The Little Lorikeet has a small red face and a bit of colour behind its head, while the scaly-breasted one appears mostly green.I’ve learned something about Lorikeets now and feeling more confident in bird identification.A few birds fly past too quickly to tell what they are – their feathers are a brown-yellow colour, but I’m not sure, so don’t add them to the count.One of the ways to tell a Currawong from a Magpie when you see them at a distance (apart from their very different calls) is that the Currawong has yellow eyes and will lift and lower its tail when it lands on a branch – a Magpie won’t. And if you see the underside of their wings, a Currawong has a white markings near the tip of each wing.The time goes too quickly, and the app tells me my 20 minutes is up.In total, I’ve seen 5 Yellow throated Miners, 3 Rainbow Lorikeets, 5 Little Lorikeets, 1 Pied Currawong, 1 Australian raven, 1 Grey Butcherbird, 1 Blue-faced Honeyeater and 1 Straw-necked Ibis.BirdLife Australia’s 2019 Aussie Backyard Bird Count is on until October 27, so you have a few more days to take a little time to chill out and watch birds.You can do it anywhere – it doesn’t have to be in your backyard – it could be at the beach, the main street in town, the schoolyard – anywhere.You can count as many times as you like over the week – just keep each session to a 20 minute period and submit your results to the Aussie Backyard Bird count, either through the free app, or via the website.The app keeps a live count of how many submissions are made and how many birds counted. At the time of this story’s publication, nearly 2 million birds had been counted nationally and over 50,000 checklists submitted. Data and results from the count will be used by BirdLife Australia to help in a number of ways, such as on-ground management, analysing bird adaptation to local developments, or identifying good ‘birding spots’ for ecotourism.Lismore City Council’s Environmental Strategies Officer Wendy Neilan said council was supporting the Bird Count to help deliver its Biodiversity Management Strategy. “The count will give us an accurate understanding of what birds are found where. This will allow us to better manage and preserve habitats for these species now and into the future,” she said. “Spring it a great time as the warmer weather means birds are starting to re-appear from the winter hideaways which is why BirdLife Australia is predicting a record-breaking count in one of Australia’s largest citizen science projects. “Spring also means the birth of many new birds, and data from the Aussie Backyard Bird Count will help BirdLife Australia keep an eye on bird populations across the Northern Rivers and the country.You can register for the count and find educational materials for schools, childcare centres and other educational groups on the website http://www.aussiebirdcount.org.auIf you don’t like to use “smart” devices and apps, you can submit your counts later via a printable form also available on the website.The Aussie Backyard Bird Count only takes place once per year in National Bird Week, whereas Birds In Backyards runs seasonal surveys (four per year) for you to take part in. You can find out more about Birds in Backyards at http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/.

The antici...pation is over.The Rocky Horror Picture Show - a cult classic that flopped when it first came out in 1975 - is back in the Star Court Theatre this Friday, October 25, at 7pm.And there will be a shadow cast of players acting out the story in front of the screen.Come dressed in costume and be prepared to take part in an interactive ritual that the movie’s lovers have been doing for over 40 years.If you are new to story of this sci-fi musical, there’s an opportunity to hold your newspaper over your head while it rains and call out in response to the character’s dialogue as the movie plays.While outside supplies for the interactive screenings are prohibited, pre-approved items will be sold in grab-bags in the lobby during the event.This is to avoid props like rice messing up the historic theatre.Nixie Wilson will be in the shadowcast as Columbia.The campy cultural phenomenon stars Tim Curry as Dr. Frank N. Furter, Susan Sarandon as Janet (dammit!) Weiss, and boyfriend Brad Majors played by Barry Bostwick.It features a monster designed by an alien transvestite scientist for sex, casual dinner-time cannibalism and tacky dialogue.But these are also the same reasons why the film has been a certified cult classic.It’s also sparked a unique phenomenon: an audience-driven “shadow cast,” with groups of performers in heels and corsets simultaneously re-enacting the show on stage while the movie is running, with audiences yelling at the screen and dancing the Time Warp in the aisles.The Rocky Horror Picture Show is on at the Star Court Theatre this Friday, at 7pm.Tickets cost $15-18 and can be bought online, or at the theatre.To book:https://sa2.seatadvisor.com/sabo/servlets/TicketRequest?&presenter=AUSTARCT&event=rocks&fbclid=IwAR0oMAZ26jwIu5tL5j2KJphadJHDJzy8PPQWvZw20oJwa7pfpPakEWIhXm0&tck=true

A Goonellabah man and a Kyogle man will face Lismore Local Court today charged with firearms offences.Richmond District Police issued a statement saying that between 6pm on Tuesday, October 22 and 7am on Wednesday, October 22, “police will allege a .22 calibre pistol, ammunition, a magazine and bank cards were stolen from inside a vehicle at Roxy Lane, Kyogle”.“Officers attached to Richmond Police District were notified later that morning and an investigation commenced,” the statement said.“About 12.50pm, police attended a government building on Geneva Street, Casino, and spoke with a 21-year-old man.“Police searched the Kyogle man and allegedly located ammunition.“At this time a second male, also aged 21, ran from the government building.“Richmond PD officers subsequently searched for the man and attended a home on Norton Street, Kyogle, where he was arrested.“When this man, who is from Goonellabah, was searched police allegedly located a pistol, ammunition, a magazine, bank cards and steroids.“Both men were taken to Lismore Police Station and charged with several offences.“The 21-year-old Goonellabah man was charged with possess loaded firearm in public place, steal firearm, larceny, possess prohibited drug, possess unauthorised pistol, possess ammunition without permit and outstanding warrants.“The 21-year-old Kyogle man was charged with possess ammunition without permit, possess unauthorised pistol and receive/dispose stolen property.“Both were refused bail to appear at Lismore Local Court today, Thursday October 24.”

Lismore school student Georgia Rhodes turns 17 next week and is one year on from her diagnosis of blood cancer. She recently asked her mum Kylie if she could jump out of a plane and Kylie said ‘not yet - maybe next year’.“She’s invincible now,’ Kylie said.The Lismore App has been following their story over the past year and now, Georgia is eight months on since she had a transplant of bone marrow, donated from her brother.“They joke about sharing the same DNA,” Kylie said. “They laugh that if either one was to commit murder and left blood at the scene, they wouldn’t know who did it.”Now, they and other local families affected by blood cancer are organising a special event on November 2, to raise money for the Leukemia Foundation.Light the Night in Lismore‘Light the Night in Lismore’ will see coloured lanterns take off into the sky from 7.30pm as people remember the ongoing fight against blood cancer in our communities. “The colour blue shows support of someone fighting blood cancer, white if you’ve been diagnosed with it, or gold in memory of someone who’s died from it,” Kylie said.Along with Kylie, two other local mothers are organising the event.“We are all nurses who worked at St Vincent’s Hospital and all have children diagnosed with blood cancer,” Kylie said.“We wanted to give something back to the Leukemia Foundation, which provided us with support and accommodation when we had to stay in Brisbane with the kids when they were receiving treatment at Queensland Children’s Hospital.”One of the children was Jen Rose’s daughter, Sharie - who was Georgia’s also best friend, and died earlier this year.Kylie said slowly, but surely, Georgia is in the process of trying to get back into life again.“She’s having counselling and that’s helping with depression and anxiety,” she said.“She has moments when she says ‘why was I chosen to survive and my best friend died?’. I said to her ‘for you there’s some greater purpose, so go forth and make a difference’.“I think she will.”Pictured: Georgia Rhodes and her mum Kylie.Local blood cancer rates highKylie said it’s surprising how many people are diagnosed with blood cancer in our local community - whether it’s leukemia or lymphoma.“When Georgia was first diagnosed, there were two other girls in the country with that type of cancer,” she said.“Statistically, there are seven people per annum diagnosed with lymphoma cancer.“But I know of four diagnosed in this community with it in a space of 12 months.“It would make an excellent research project - why is it so prevalent here? It’s heartbreaking.“The common denominator locally is that the children had one parent who was a nurse – but the children had different types of cancer. “The Leukemia Foundation is also about bringing awareness to the issue. “I was blind to this before I heard the word ‘your child has cancer’ - I didn’t realise how many were affected.“We don’t know what causes 90% of childhood cancers. It’s not like adult cancers where the causes could be lifestyle factors."Georgia's futureKylie said Georgia is going to back to school again next year, “but she’ll have missed a year and will start year 11, rather than doing the HSC”.“She’s also got her wish granted and we’re getting a golden retriever puppy,” she said.“It’s lifted her spirits so much while she’s at home recovering.“We’re also working through starting her revaccination process. “We need to be careful because she’s susceptible to things like the flu and is still on antibiotics and antiviral medications for another six months to protect her.“She’ll be at the event with the others, sharing their stories of how blood cancer affects people’s lives.”“The community here is so supportive of all of us.“When I feel the love from home, I find the strength to push through."Event details: Light the Night in Lismore The event begins at 5pm on Saturday, November 2, at Lismore Rudby Grounds, 1 Rugby Road, Lismore.Lanterns are scheduled to be released at 7.30pm and cost $10 each, with all proceeds going to the Leukemia Foundation. “You can register before the event and we’ll put a lantern aside for you, or you can buy one on the night,” Kylie said.“Local sporting clubs and business have donated vouchers and prizes in support of the event.“Lismore Rugby Club has given their facility for free and we ask people to give a donation when they arrive.”There will be lucky door prizes and raffle tickets, which are on sale now for $5 each. Prizes include hampers, vouchers, a thermomix, BBQ, vacuum cleaner, Summit Sports fitness and Harvey Norman vouchers.“Georgia’s brother plays for Marist Brothers Football Club and they will cook a BBQ on the night,” Kylie said.“We ask that people bring food to share if they want, and a picnic blanket to set on the oval.“Trinity students are helping with the BBQ too and we’ll have a band playing, face painting and Hernes will bring some speedway cars so the kids can look.”Speeches on the night will be from Georgia, as well as from others who’s lives have been affected by blood cancer.“We want this to become a regular fundraiser and awareness event,” Kylie said.To find out more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/Light-the-Night-Lismore-112714686775580/

Artist and TAFE student Naomi Mikkelsen has taken up residence at the Revolve Shop to prove that you can turn waste into art.She is the first of a series of artists who are taking part in the Upcycle Artist in Residence Project at the Lismore Recycling & Recovery Centre.The project, in partnership between Lismore City Council and TAFE NSW, is designed to encourage the re-use of our valuable resources and stop them ending up in landfill.Naomi is currently creating a body of work called Think Outside the Bin, a series of sculptures made from recycled and repurposed materials and cement.“I just wanted to inspire people about what they can make out of recycled material and show them what art can be, that it doesn’t necessarily have to be made out of bronze or marble, that it can be made out of recycle materials,” she said.“I am interested in how we can reuse our surplus of discarded resources, removing them from their intended functional context and transforming them into objects with a second life.”Lismore City Council’s Environmental Strategies Officer Education Barbara Jensen said the council is committed to reducing the amount of waste that goes into landfill.“We want to inspire people to repair, repurpose and upcycle their waste,” she said. “The Upcycle Artist in Residence project will help spark conversations about the many ways we can do this, with the end result of less waste going into landfill.”TAFE NSW teacher David Hickson, who is overseeing the project, said it was an opportunity for student artists to work in a studio environment using different materials.“It is a tradition in the arts to have artists-in-residences around the country to engage with the community. It’s a good way to develop experience,” he said.“The artist works onsite and welcomes informal visitors to their studio during their working hours, talking about their work and the experience.”Naomi will be in residence at the Revolve Shop every Thursday for the next four weeks.Applications to be the next artist-in-residence is open to all enrolled TAFE students.TradesJobs

Richmond Police District detectives have arrested three men following a three-month investigation into the supply of prohibited drugs in the state’s Northern Rivers.In August 2019, Strike Force Tarplee was established to investigate the supply of methylamphetamine in Lismore and surrounding areas.A 35-year-old man was arrested on Monday, October 21.He was charged with 28 offences, including three counts of supply prohibited drug on an ongoing basis. He was refused bail to face Lismore Local Court on Monday 16 December 2019.Then about 10.30am yesterday, Tuesday October 22, officers attached to Richmond PD executed two search warrants at homes on Leycester and North Streets in Lismore.During the search warrants, police allegedly located and seized methylamphetamine, amphetamine tablets, restricted pharmaceutical drugs, cannabis, knuckle dusters, ammunition, cash and drug paraphernalia.Watch the video of the arrest: https://www.facebook.com/RichmondPoliceDistrict/videos/vb.280566398665306/380010096211684/?type=2&theaterA second man, also aged 35, was arrested at Leycester Street and was taken to Lismore Police Station.He was charged with 13 drug offences, including supply prohibited drug on an ongoing basis, supply prohibited drug and supply indictable prohibited drug. He was refused bail to face Lismore Local Court today, Wednesday October 23.A 19-year-old man was arrested at North Street and was taken to Lismore Police Station.He was charged with eight offences, including supply prohibited drug, possess prescribed restricted substance, deal in the proceeds of crime and possess prohibited weapon. He was refused bail to face Lismore Local Court today.Investigations under Strike Force Tarplee are ongoing.Anyone with information about the supply of prohibited drugs is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.auInformation is treated in strict confidence. 

Scientists don’t necessarily prefer to be hidden away in the laboratory.Today and tomorrow, October 24-24, Southern Cross University (SCU) research students will present their research and participate in workshops that challenge the idea that scientists work in secret. They are taking part in RISE 2019 – a free conference that invites interested community members to come along to the Lismore Campus and hear what the latest research intended for use by the community is.SCU PhD candidate Laura Stoltenberg said “a lot of science is behind a paywall”.“It’s good to make it more accessible and more understanding,” she said. Laura presented her research on the dissolution of coral reef settlements to a colourful crowd at the Splendour in the Grass science tent this year.“It’s important to be transparent about it and show a broader audience what we’re doing,” she said.‘Together We Go Further’ is the theme of the conference that will bring 42 postgraduate students together to collaborate and share the highs and the lows and supporting each other.SCU RISE 2019 conference chair and PhD researcher Gloria Reithmaier said “communication and collaboration is just as important as the research”.“One of my personal conference highlights is the discussion panel ‘Cooperation 101’, which brings together experts working in interdisciplinary research, industry, NGOs, and the government,” she said.Researcher Kirsty Langdon will present ‘Nutting out Macadamia genetics’.Her research will ultimately assist macadamia farmers to breed the beloved nuts – native to the Northern Rivers and recently domesticated – in changing climates.Rick Tate will share his insights on his collaborative research on Smart Drumlines which are being trialled in six locations along Australia’s east coast as a method to reduce stress on white sharks when captured.Jordanna Hinton has recently returned from Fiji where she was immersed with beekeepers, NGOs and researchers.She will talk about the importance of beekeeping for development.PhD candidate Sophie Pryor said “what is the point of asking all these big questions if we can’t do something with the information”.Sophie is presenting about the effects of ocean temperature on sea anemones, and the impact of climate change.“When I’m writing presentations, I try to imagine if my 10-year old cousin will understand it,” she said.“Science needs to be accessible so that people can be inspired to say, ‘I know something I didn’t know before and I’m going to do something about it’.”  RISE 2019 details:Date: Wednesday and Thursday, October 23 and 24Time: 9:30am - 5.30pm Wednesday and 9:00am - 3:00pm ThursdayVenue: U Block Lecture theatre, Southern Cross University, Military Road, Lismore.